Browse by

Demographic Information
Preliminary report: Deliverable 1
Creating Space for Strength: An Asset‐Based Community
Development and Research Project Focussed on Calgary’s
North Central Communities
November 21, 2012

Acknowledgements
The authors gratefully acknowledge the support and contributions of those who have helped us prepare
this report and support this project:
•
•

Project Origins ‐ NorthernHills Constituency
Project Funders ‐ Government of Alberta (CFEP Grant); United Way of Calgary and Area; Aspen
Family and Community Network Society; NorthernHills Community Association

•

Project Supporters ‐ NorthernHills Constituency; City of Calgary; Aspen Family and Community
Network Society; NorthernHills Community Association; United Way of Calgary and Area

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page

5

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

1.

November 2012

Introduction

This report is the first deliverable in a project designed to uncover the strengths, spaces and community
assets in Calgary’s North Central Communities.
The project will include collecting data from primary sources such as interviews and community
meetings, and secondary data, such as the demographic data provided in this report.
Collecting the demographic data first allows us to understand who we should focus on for our interview
and community meetings in order to ensure that the populations of the communities included in the
study are represented fairly.
The data provided in this report are exclusive to the communities that the Steering Committee for this
project has identified in the early stages of the project. The statistics included are by no means
exhaustive. Any omissions (within the parameters of our study) or errors are purely unintentional. Every
effort has been made to present valid and reliable data.
Since our project uses a modified Participatory Action Research (PAR) approach, we invite feedback
from community members and in particular, from the Steering Committee of this project. The
implications of this data for a PAR project are noted at the end of the report.

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page

6

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

2.

November 2012

Overview of Calgary’s North Central Communities

The first phase of the project is to understand the parameters of the study, and in particular to
understand the overall demographic information available for the communities under study. For the
purposes of this report, the study area includes:
•
•
•
•

Currently, these communities fall into the following civic wards and provincial ridings3, with current
government representatives listed also. Maps of electoral divisions may be found at:
http://www.electionsalberta.ab.ca/

Table 1: Calgary’s North Central Communities
Community
Association

Community

Ward

Councillor

Electoral Division

2

MLA

Harvest Hills

3

Jim Stevenson

Calgary Northern Hills

Teresa Woo‐Paw (PC)

Coventry Hills

3

Jim Stevenson

Calgary Northern Hills

Teresa Woo‐Paw (PC)

Country Hills

4

Gael MacLeod

Calgary Northern Hills

Teresa Woo‐Paw (PC)

Country Hills Village 3

Jim Stevenson

Calgary Northern Hills

Teresa Woo‐Paw (PC)

Panorama Hills

3

Jim Stevenson

Calgary Northern Hills

Teresa Woo‐Paw (PC)

Evanston
Creekside
Community
Association

Evanston

2

Gord Lowe

Creekside

2

Hidden
Valley CA

Hidden Valley

Sandstone
MacEwan
Community
Assocation

Northern
Hills
Community
Association

Calgary MacKay Nose‐Hill

Gord Lowe

1

Calgary Foothills

5

Len Webber (PC)

4

Gael MacLeod

Calgary Foothills

5

Len Webber (PC)

MacEwan

4

Gael MacLeod

Calgary MacKay Nose‐Hill

Neil Brown (PC)

Sandstone

4

Gael MacLeod

Calgary MacKay Nose‐Hill

Neil Brown (PC)

6

4

Neil Brown (PC)

1

A call to 311 confirmed that Creekside would be located in Ward 2.
The sub‐community of Hanson Ranch is part of Calgary Northern Hills and is located in Ward 4. The sub‐
community of Hanson Ridge is in Panorama Hills and is located in Ward 3.
3
Electoral divisions do not exactly match municipal communities.
2

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page

7

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

3.

November 2012

Sources

The data for this report was drawn mainly from the City of Calgary’s Community Profiles, as reported by
the social research policy department of the City of Calgary using the 2011 civic census and 2006 federal
census.4 The most recent federal census was conducted in 2011 but community level data will
unfortunately not be available until fall 2013, so in some categories the 2006 census data is the most
recent available. In some cases, the community profiles do not include all 2011 civic census data, in
which case, the original census report was consulted.5 For home prices, reporting from the Calgary Real
Estate Board (CREB) was used, and for crime, the Calgary Police Service Crimes Web Mapping
Application was consulted for the most recent six‐month period.
The Canadian Council on Social Development has also established the Community Data Program in the
1990s. This program allows municipalities and community agencies and non‐profits to access
customized data from Statistics Canada and other providers that helps when monitoring and reporting
on social and economic development trends within their communities. Aspen is a member of this
program and can access this information. This preliminary report does not include this data as yet, but
this program will be consulted before the final report is submitted.

Of course, there can be no typical residents of the communities under study. Each one of the 77,946
people who live there is unique and is a result of both genes and upbringing. However, when
considering the demographic data available for the communities, a composite profile can be collected
from the available data when considering averages and medians across the nine communities.
A composite profile of a typical resident of these communities finds the person:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Is between 35 and 44;
Is employed;
Drives alone to work;
Has one child living at home (1.1);
Has a household income of approximately $106,254;6
Has either a high school diploma or a university degree;
Is married;
Is Canadian born and Caucasian;
Owns his/her own home.

6

This figure is extrapolated from 2006 census data, which showed a media income for the communities of
$79,830. However, by 2010, the median income for Calgary had gone up to $89,490 or 33.1%
(www.statcan.gc.ca/tables‐tableaux/sum‐som/l01/cst01/famil107a‐eng.htm) which would be in 2010 dollars
adjusted for inflation. Therefore, because of the vast change in median income since last data available in 2005,
the median income has been increased by 33.1% for this report. This can be framed only as a “best guess” number
and actual 2006 income figures can be found in the Appendix.

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page

9

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

5.

November 2012

Observations

Beyond these high‐level composite characteristics, there are more detailed observations about this area
of Calgary that can be made. These are gleaned from various population characteristics, including age,
gender, education, employment, income, households, dwellings, etc. There are also certain special
populations that are highlighted within this report, as an attempt to uncover some of the more diverse
aspects of the area’s population.

5.1 Population
5.1.1. Community populations
The total population for the study area is 77,946, or 7.1% of Calgary’s total 2011 population.
Panorama Hills is the largest community with 19,851 residents, followed by Coventry Hills
(15,722) and Hidden Valley (11,657). The smallest community is Country Hills Village with 2,342
residents, followed by Country Hills at 3,720. Three of the largest 20 communities in Calgary are
found within this study area: Panorama Hills (1); Coventry Hills (7) and Hidden Valley (16).
Table 2: Community Populations (2011)
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 10

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.1.2. Population Changes7
The communities under study are also a mixture between older, established communities and
newer, growing communities. In general, Harvest Hills and Country Hills have remained with a
constant population over the past five years. Hidden Valley, MacEwan Glen and Sandstone
Valley have actually lost residents during this time period. Coventry Hills, Panorama Hills and
Evanston/Creekside have experienced rapid growth.
Table 3: Northern Calgary Community 5‐Year Population Changes
Evanston
Hidden
Creekside CA Valley CA

The data in this section is drawn from the 2011 civic census. City of Calgary, 2011 Civic Census Results (Calgary:
Election and Information Services, 2011), p. 81‐89. Web. 30 October 2012. http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city‐
clerks/Documents/Election‐and‐information‐services/Civic‐Census/2011_census_result_book.pdf

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 11

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.1.3. Ages8
The age profile of the communities also mirrors that of Calgary quite closely. The only slight
difference is that the most common age range for the area under study is between 35 and 44,
while for Calgary it is slightly younger at between 25 and 34. The only two communities that
mirror Calgary’s most common age range are Country Hills Village and Evanston/Creekside.
Country Hills Village also has the lowest number (250) and percentage (10.7%) of children, while
also being home to the highest percentage of seniors (28%) and the second highest number at
656. Panorama Hills actually has the highest number of residents over 65 living in the
community (943), although this only equates to 4.8% of the total community population.
The community with the most children is also Panorama Hills (6,201 or 31.2% of the community
population). Evanston/Creekside actually has the highest percentage of children living there at
32.4% or 1,909 children. Hidden Valley also has a high percentage of children at 31.9% or 3,714.
There are also 6,099 (7.8% of the total area population) children under the age of four living in
all of the communities.

Table 4: Age Ranges by Community (2011)
25000
Over 75

20000

65 ‐ 74

15000

55 ‐ 64

10000

45 ‐ 54

5000

35 ‐ 44
25 ‐ 34

0

20 ‐ 24
15 ‐ 19
5 ‐ 14

8

The data in this section is drawn from the 2011 civic census. City of Calgary, 2011 Civic Census Results (Calgary:
Election and Information Services, 2011), p. 90‐98. Web. 30 October 2012. http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city‐
clerks/Documents/Election‐and‐information‐services/Civic‐Census/2011_census_result_book.pdf

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 12

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.1.4. Gender9
The gender breakdown of the population is very close to 50‐50 for the area, as it is for Calgary in
general (39,016 female; 38,930 male). There is a notable difference in children under 19, where
males (11,763) outnumber females (11,126) by 637 individuals. There is a contrasting difference
found at the other end of the age spectrum, where women 65 and older (2,495) outnumber
men of the same age range (2,096) by some 400 individuals.

9

The data in this section is drawn from the 2011 civic census. City of Calgary, 2011 Civic Census Results (Calgary:
Election and Information Services, 2011), p. 99‐116. Web. 30 October 2012. http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city‐
clerks/Documents/Election‐and‐information‐services/Civic‐Census/2011_census_result_book.pdf

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 13

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.2 Education10
The educational status of the residents in the study area tracks very closely with those of
Calgary in general. In 2006, close to one‐quarter of residents had either a high school diploma
(25%) or a university degree (23.3%) listed as their highest level of education. This is very similar
to the average Calgary rates of high school (25.6%) and university education (25.3%). There was
a 17.3% rate of area residents held no degree, diploma or certificate, which was again close to
the 18.1% Calgary average.
Within the communities, Evanston/Creekside has the most highly educated residents, with
30.9% holding a university degree, with another 25.4% holding a college diploma. Only 10.9%
had no degree, diploma or certificate and 18.5% had only high school. Country Hills Village had
the lowest percentage of university‐educated residents (16.9%), followed by Harvest Hills
(17.6%) and Sandstone Valley (19.9%). Country Hills Village also had the highest percentage of
residents with trades certifications.
Table 5: Highest Level of Education in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2006)

City of Calgary

No cerqﬁcate, diploma or
degree

Total Area
Sandstone Valley

High School

MacEwan Glen
Hidden Valley

Trades/Apprenqceship

Evanston/
College

Panorama Hills
Coventry Hills

University below BA

Country Hills Village
Country Hills

University BA+

Harvest Hills
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

10

The data in this section is drawn from the 2006 federal census, from the City of Calgary Community Profiles.

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 14

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.3 Employment11
The employment rate in 2011 for those over the age of 15 in the study area (69.5%) is slightly
higher than overall rate for Calgary (65.3%). The highest rates are in Evanston/Creekside
(79.6%), Coventry Hills (76.5%) and Hidden Valley (72.9%). Again, Country Hills Village, with its
large senior population, has the lowest employment rate at just 50.6%, followed by Sandstone
Valley (65.4%) and MacEwan Glen (68.6%).

5.4 Income12
The median household income figures come from 2005 data, as reported in the 2006 census.
Calgary experienced a significant economic boom after 2005, and as such the 2005 figures are
not reflective of current conditions. Statistics Canada reported in 2006 that the Calgary average
household income was $67,238; by 2010, this figure had increased to $89,49013 which
represents a 33.1% increase. As a result, two versions of the median income are presented
here: one is the 2005 data, which is firm, while the other is the 2005 figures increased by 33.1%.
Although this is not scientific (as for example, Country Hills Village has a higher percentage of
seniors on fixed incomes), it will provide a closer reflection of current estimated median
incomes.
The highest median income rates are found in Hidden Valley ($89,044 – 2005; $119,419 ‐ 2010),
Panorama Hills ($89,044 – 2005; $118,518 ‐ 2010), MacEwan Glen ($87,943 – 2005; $117,052 ‐
2010) and Harvest Hills ($87,200 – 2005; $116,063 ‐ 2010). The lowest rates by far are found in
Country Hills Village ($50,960 – 2005; $67,828 ‐ 2010), again because of the high population of
seniors living on fixed incomes.
There is a significantly lower rate of low‐income households in the study area (7.3%) than across
Calgary (14.2%). The highest rates are found in Sandstone Valley (8.5%) followed by MacEwan
Glen (8.3%) and Evanston/Creekside (8.3%). The lowest rates are found in Panorama Hills
(5.1%) and Harvest Hills (5.9%).

11

The data in this section are drawn from the 2011 civic census. City of Calgary, 2011 Civic Census Results (Calgary:
Election and Information Services, 2011), p. 35; 123‐32. Web. 30 October 2012. <http://www.calgary.ca/CA/city‐
clerks/Documents/Election‐and‐information‐services/Civic‐Census/2011_census_result_book.pdf>.
12
The data in this section are drawn from the 2006 federal census, from the City of Calgary Community Profiles.
13
Statistics Canada, Family income and income of individuals, related variables: Sub‐provincial data, 2010 (Ottawa:
Statistics Canada, June 27, 2012). Web. 31 October 2012. < http://www.statcan.gc.ca/daily‐
quotidien/120627/dq120627b‐eng.pdf>

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 15

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

Table 6: Median Household Income in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2005 and 2010)

With few exceptions, residents in Calgary’s North Central communities have a higher household income
than the average household in Calgary.

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 16

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.5 Marital Status14
The vast majority of residents over the age of 15 in the study area are married couples (59.8%)
as of 2006, while those who were never married are next at 29.8%. This differs from the average
across Calgary as 35.6% were never married, while 49.7% were married. There was an 7.9%
divorce or separation rate, while 7.8% of couples were living common law. Only 2.6% of
residents were widowed.
Panorama Hills and Evanston/Creekside had the highest rate of married couples at 64.9%.
Hidden Valley was next at 62.6%. Country Hills Village had the lowest percentage of married
couples at 48.8%, and also the highest percentage of widowed individuals at 14.1%, which is not
surprising considering the profile of older residents living in the community.

The data in this section is drawn from the 2006 federal census, from the City of Calgary Community Profiles.

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 17

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.6 Household Structure
As reported in the 2006 federal census, there are also 5% of residents of the area who are living
alone, with the highest rate being 28.8% in Country Hills Village. The lowest rate for individuals
living alone occurs in Evanston/Creekside (2.7%) and Hidden Valley (3.9%). All communities in the
study area have lower rates of single‐person households than the Calgary average (10.2%). 15
There are also a lower percentage of lone‐parent families with children living in this area. There is
an average of 16.4% of households headed by a lone parent, compared to 23.5% for all of Calgary.
There is a high percentage living in Country Hills Village (36.8%), which is the only community
higher than the Calgary average. The lowest percentage of lone‐parent families are found in
Evanston/Creekside (9.7%), followed by Panorama Hills (11.4%).16
There are also a considerable number of children living at home. There were 16,845 children
under the age of 18 (77.7%) living at home in 2006, while the remaining 4,830 (22.3%) were over
18. There are fewer children over the age of 18 living at home in the communities under study
than in Calgary (28.3%). There are quite substantial differences between communities. Sandstone
Valley has the highest percentage of children over 18 living at home at 35.9%, followed by
MacEwan Glen at 31%. The lowest percentage of children over 18 living at home is found in
Coventry Hills at just 14.5%, followed by Evanston/Creekside at 15.6%. 17

15

The data in this section is drawn from the 2006 federal census, from the City of Calgary Community Profiles.
The data in this section is drawn from the 2006 federal census, from the City of Calgary Community Profiles.
17
The data in this section is drawn from the 2006 federal census, from the City of Calgary Community Profiles.
16

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 18

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

5.7 Housing/Dwellings18
There were 27,324 dwellings in the study area in 2011, which is distributed in a manner that
closely mirrors the populations of the nine communities. There are far more single family homes
(SFH) in this area (78.3%) than exist on average across Calgary (57.9%). Conversely, there are also
fewer apartments (8.1%), townhouses (8.5%) , and duplexes (4.4%) than in the rest of Calgary.
Coventry Hills has the highest percentage of SFH with 94.6%, followed by Evanston/Creekside at
90.8% and Hidden Valley at 89%. Country Hills Village has no SFH, only apartments and
townhouses.
Ownership rates are also higher in the study area (86.8%) than in the rest of Calgary (72.8%). The
outlier in percentage of ownership is again Country Hills Village (69%).
The average number of individuals per dwelling ranges between 1.84 (Country Hills Village) and
3.17 (Panorama Hills), with an average for the area of 2.86.

Table 8: Average Number of People per Dwelling in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2011)

5.8 House Prices19
In 2011, averages prices for single family home (SFH) ($380,609)20 and condo ($270,248)21 prices
in the study area are generally lower than the Calgary average ($453,845 – SFH; $288,291 –
condo)22, although the median price for condos is slightly higher ($260,100 – area; $255,000 –
Calgary)23. The exception to this is Panorama Hills, where the average SFH price was $471,257,
which is slightly higher than the average. 24
Table 9: Prices for Single Family Homes in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2011)
$500,000
$450,000
$400,000
$350,000
$300,000
$250,000
$200,000

Special Populations and Diversity
There are numerous sub‐populations, or groups of people, within these communities that can be
revealed using both federal and civic census data. There is a demonstrated desire on the part of the
community to include these residents in the study.
Diversity is a term that includes a variety of different personal characteristics. For the purposes of
this report, the focus will be on the following categories: immigrant, visible minority, Aboriginal,
disability, and seniors.

6.1 Immigrant Residents
Calgary has experienced tremendous growth in population over the past decade, and much of
this growth is due to immigrants choosing the city as their new Canadian home. In 2010, the
total immigrant population of Calgary was estimated to be 304,000, or almost 30%, and is
expected to climb to 500,000 by 2020.25
As of 2006, the communities in this study have on average27.9% of their residents identified as
immigrants. The highest rates of immigrants are found in the communities of Panorama Hills
(41.7%) and Sandstone Valley (38.8%). The lowest percentage of immigrant residents is found in
Harvest Hills (19.4%). When considering numbers, again Panorama Hills leads the way with
4,255 immigrant residents, followed by Hidden Valley (3,130) and Coventry Hills (2,900).
Table 11: Number of Recent Immigrants in Calgary’s North Central Communities
4500
4000
3500
3000
2500
2000
1500
1000
500
0

Additional to this overall data, the federal census also provides more detailed information on
the breakdown of the origin country of most recent immigrants. From 2001 to 2006, the top 10
countries of origin were reported on at the community level. Within the study area, immigrants
from China were the most common, followed by those from the Philippines, Pakistan and
Afghanistan. The highest numbers of Chinese immigrants live in Sandstone, while the highest
numbers of Pakistani immigrants live in Panorama Hills and Harvest Hills. There is also a large
population of Afghans in Coventry Hills. The largest numbers of immigrants from the Philippines
live in Hidden Valley and Panorama Hills.

The number of immigrants from locations that were unspecified is significant. This makes it
difficult to project what the demographics of these communities may look like, in terms of
immigrant populations, in the coming years.

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 23

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

6.2 Visible Minority Residents
Residents who identify as visible minority can be either immigrant or Canadian‐born. According
to the 2006 federal census, 22.2% of Calgary’s population, or 237,900, belonged to a visible
minority group, which is the fourth highest percentage in the country behind Toronto (42.9%),
Vancouver (41.7%) and Abbotsford (22.8%). Only one in three visible minority residents were
Canadian‐born, while two‐thirds were immigrants. 26
Within the area under study, there were a total of 20,150 who identified as visible minority in
2006, or 32.6%, which is a higher rate than the average rate for Calgary. There are significant
differences within the communities, with Panorama Hills having over half of its population
identifying as visible minority (52.6%), followed by Sandstone Valley (45.3%) and Country Hills
(24.4%). The community with the lowest percentage of visible minority residents was Country
Hills Village (15.1%), which was the only community to report a percentage lower than the
Calgary average.
Table 13: Visible Minority Residents in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2006)
Community
Country Hills
Country Hills Village
Coventry Hills
Harvest Hills
Panorama Hills
Evanston/Creekside
Hidden Valley
MacEwan Glen
Sandstone Valley
Total

6.3 Aboriginal Residents27
As reported in the 2006 federal census, there were 26,575 Aboriginal people living in the Calgary
census metropolitan area, which includes the Tsuu T’ina Nation. The term “Aboriginal” used
here includes North American Indian, Métis or Inuit, and/or those who reported being a Treaty
Indian or a registered Indian as defined by the Indian Act of Canada, and/or those who reported
they were members of an Indian band or First Nation. Unfortunately, the community level data
does not provide a further breakdown of the Aboriginal population as to these groups.
The Aboriginal population is widely distributed across Calgary, with no one community having an
Aboriginal population exceeding 12%.28 Within the communities in the study area, the
Aboriginal population is quite small at 2% of the area’s population. The largest population of
Aboriginal residents live in Hidden Valley (325 or 2.8%). There were no Aboriginal residents
living in Country Hills Village.
Table 14: Aboriginal Residents in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2006)
Community
Country Hills
Country Hills Village
Coventry Hills
Harvest Hills
Panorama Hills
Evanston/Creekside
Hidden Valley
MacEwan Glen
Sandstone Valley
Totals

6.4 Residents with Disabilities29
As of 2006, there were 7,260 residents with disabilities living in the area, which equates to
11.7% of the total population in the study area. This is less than the 16.3% rate across the City of
Calgary. Not surprisingly, due to its older population, Country Hills Village has the highest rate of
residents with disabilities, with a rate of 27.3%. By numbers, the largest population of residents
with disabilities live in Hidden Valley (1,425). Evanston/Creekside has the lowest rate at 7.9% or
235 individuals.
Table 15: Residents with Disabilities in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2006)

1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0

29

The data from this section is drawn from the 2006 federal census and the 2010 Civic census (which provides the
2006 population figures

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 26

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

6.5 Older Adults/Seniors
The City of Calgary provides very good community‐level information on seniors.30
Unfortunately, the population figures in these profiles do not reflect the most current 2011 civic
census figures. To ensure the most accurate population numbers, the 2011 civic census numbers
were analyzed and used for this section. 31
There is a total population of 4,591 residents who were 65 or over in the study area, which
equates to 5.9% of the total area population. This is slightly lower than the average Calgary rate
of 9.8%. There are more women over 65 (2,495) than men (2,096). Country Hills Village has the
highest percentage rate of seniors resident in their community, with 28%. There are also
significantly more senior women (401) than men (255) who are resident in Country Hills Village.
Sandstone Valley is next with 10.6%. Evanston/Creekside (2.3%) and Coventry Hills (2.8%) have
the smallest percentages.
Table 16: Populations of Seniors in Calgary’s North Central Communties (2011)

The median income rates for seniors were last reported as part of the 2006 federal census and
are taken from 2005 data. As seniors often live on fixed incomes, it seems fair to assume that
the rapid increase in household income that occurred within the rest of Calgary households did
not occur with seniors’ incomes. The median income for seniors in the study area ($20,518) is
slightly lower than the Calgary average ($22,625). Panorama Hills has the lowest median income
for seniors at $15,468, while the highest is found in Country Hills at $25,429. Country Hills
Village is next at $24,322.
Table 17: Median Income for Seniors in Calgary’s North Central Communities (2005)
$30,000
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0

Eaton International Consulting Inc.

Page 28

Demographic Information on Calgary’s North Central Communities

November 2012

Mode of Transportation32

7.

The 2011 civic census was the first time Calgarians were canvassed as to how they travelled to
work. It is not surprising that in these suburban communities that are far from the downtown
core that residents drive alone to work more regularly than residents in the rest of Calgary. In
these communities, 78.9% drive alone to work, while the rate is 69.6% across all of Calgary. They
do act as a driver of a car pool more often than other Calgarians, although are passengers of a
car pool less often. The use of public transit is also less than the Calgary average, at 13.24% as
opposed to 17.15%. In general, residents in these areas cycle and walk to work much less than
other Calgarians.
Table 18: Transportation in Calgary’s North Central Communities
Evanston Hidden
Creekside Valley Sandstone MacEwan
CA
CA
CA

The data for crimes committed in the communities comes from the Calgary Police Service Crimes Web
Mapping Application (http://crimemap.calgarypolice.ca/content/DisclaimerPage.aspx). This application
can report crimes that occurred in individual communities for up to the past six months. The data used
for this report were accessed on October 15, 2012.
Table 19: Police‐reported Crimes Committed in Calgary’s North Central Communities (April 15 –
October 15, 2012)

Calculating the crime rate for this time period can be done by taking the total number of crimes
committed and dividing by the community population. Although just a snapshot, it does give a
representation of crime based on population of the area.
Table 20: Crime Rates in Calgary’s North Central Communities (April 15 to October 15, 2012)

This demographic data opens the door for dialogue with the project Steering Committee and community
members. Consider these questions:
•
•
•

What problems can you identify based on this data, particularly in terms of programs and
services offered in these communities?
What are some possible actions to effectively address these problems?
What resources currently exist within the community to take the actions you have identified to
address these problems?

The final action plan for this project will include primary data (collected through participatory interviews
and community meetings) and secondary data (such as this demographic information and other written
documentation).
A natural next step in this process is to extend this conversation by moving to community asset and
strength mapping. We ask for your support to help us organize community round tables focussed on
mapping the assets and strengths of your communities.

Creating Space for Strength - Demographic Info

Description

This report is the first deliverable in a project designed to uncover the strengths, spaces and community assets in Calgary&rsquo;s North Central Communities in the &quot;Creating Space for Strengt...

This report is the first deliverable in a project designed to uncover the strengths, spaces and community assets in Calgary’s North Central Communities in the "Creating Space for Strength" project. For a copy of this report contact us at http://www.eatoninternationalconsulting.com